10 Tips for Dealing with Morning Sickness

March 13, 2017

Morning sickness… check!

Evening sickness… check!

You guessed it, “all-day” sickness…check!

I can only speak from my experience but those early weeks of pregnancy after finding out we were expecting were blissful and then it started… I don’t know how it is or was for anyone else, but when week 7 or so hit… bam – hello nausea! It didn’t matter if it was morning or night, it was there.

Feeling like I had a severe hangover, minus the headache (sorry that’s the only thing I can relate it to) was not only unpleasant but it disrupted my daily activities from going to work to going grocery shopping. It was all I thought about and tried to keep under control all day, every day. Where could I hide – how was I going to keep this pregnancy a secret when I was always in the bathroom, not eating (the smell of food alone! yuck) and lying across my desk every chance I got!

The one glimmer of hope in all of this was that after the first trimester, the feelings of nausea and sickness related to it subsided and luckily for me, it did all magically go away when I hit week 13. I completely sympathize with those of you who have or are still experiencing this nausea after the first trimester. I know there are many who have NVP (nausea, vomiting of pregnancy) throughout their entire pregnancy.

There are many articles out there suggesting why some women suffer from NVP but the truth is that no one knows for sure. It could be due to the rise in hormones in your body during pregnancy or due to the heightened sense of smell. Either way, over 50% of women are affected by NVP in their first trimester so if you have it too you’re definitely not alone!

If you’re currently suffering from NVP, first know you’re not alone and second there is help for your symptoms. Always talk to your healthcare providers to find out which ones are best for you.

Here are some tips for relief and some great advice that I found helpful to me and am happy to share with you as well:

Speak with your doctor or health care professional about which prenatal vitamin is best for you and what time of day to take it, as that can be known to upset your tummy

Eat small meals throughout the day so you never have an empty, acidy stomach

Don’t go to bed hungry. Have food beside your bed for middle of the night snacking, my go to was a PB sandwich (the smell drove my hubby crazy but it definitely helped avoid the morning “gut rot” feeling)

Sniff ginger! Sounds weird but I kept a chunk of cut ginger in my freezer and I would take it out and sniff it until the wave of nausea passed

If you don’t want to carry around a chunk of ginger, try a ginger tea like the Organic Morning Wellness Tea which can also help settle your stomach

Taking time to just lie down, although simple, is often the best solution. Even if just for a few minutes, on a lunch break for example, try putting your head down on your desk, closing your eyes and just taking some deep breaths

Stay hydrated! But don’t guzzle! Little sips are the best!

Listen to your body sometimes the weirdest things make you feel better – for me it was eating melon! Cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew… literally for every meal. I can’t explain but don’t judge – at least it wasn’t pickles!

Create a nausea survival kit – toothbrush, toothpaste, bags, mouthwash and paper towels/wipes plus a stash of emergency snacks. You can never be too prepared!

Keep a stash of Preggie Pop Drops in your purse. They are natural lozenges that help ease nausea and taste great too!

The most important thing is to stay in contact with your health care professional in early pregnancy and seek their advice.

You will get through this!

– Lydia

All content in this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Always seek the direct advice of your doctor about any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

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